Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri will leave the club on loan for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
Following Arsenal’s impressive Champions League victory over Inter Milan, Arteta addressed the future of the 18-year-old playmaker. Despite Nwaneri being regarded as the “crown jewel” of the Hale End academy, the intense competition in the Gunners’ midfield has limited his first-team opportunities this season.
Arteta: “He Needs Minutes He Deserves”
In a post-match interview, Arteta was transparent about the decision to let the youngster depart temporarily.
“He is probably not playing the minutes he deserves right now,” Arteta admitted. “We have a huge talent there, and we need to protect his development. The best way to do that is to ensure he is playing competitive football every week.”
Destination: Marseille
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the deal is already done. Nwaneri is set to join French giants Olympique de Marseille on a straight loan until June. The move to Ligue 1 is seen as an ideal step, following the successful path of other Arsenal youngsters like William Saliba, who used the French league as a springboard to becoming a world-class starter at the Emirates.
Strategic Sales at the Emirates
Nwaneri’s loan is part of a broader strategy at Arsenal this January. Despite the team enjoying one of its most successful periods in modern history, the board is open to streamlining the squad. Several fringe players and academy prospects are being made available for loan or permanent sale to balance the books and provide pathways for talent development.
James Horan is a football writer focused on the Premier League transfer market, covering confirmed signings, transfer rumors, and club strategies during the transfer windows.
